“Techie” Tip: Permalink
February 5th, 2010 by DebraDavisHinkle
This is the first in what I hope will be a monthly or bi-weekly post on little technical things of blogging, commenting on other websites, sending emails with down-loadable attachments, etc.
Few things annoy me more than being sent to the wrong place and spending time looking for what is suppose to be right in front of me. When we send a letter or give our address, we don’t just give a street name. We give the exact address and that’s what we should do when we are referring viewers on our blog, website or via email.
If you are telling someone where to go on a particular blog or website, give the exact address. For example, on my joint writers’ blog/website if I want to refer you to what I think is a touching blog, I would give you this address:
http://www.kritiquekritics.com/?p=4462
OR
http://www.kritiquekritics.com/2010/01/a-final-goodbye/
However, what often happens is you are giving this instead:
http://www.kritiquekritics.com
Can you see the difference? It’s the green highlighted area. It’s called a “Permalink” or a link to an indivdual post or page, not to the whole blog or website. The first example is a “Permalink” and the second example is a “Pretty Permalink” and the final example is just a link.
As of today, SLO NightWriters website has “Pretty Permalink” capabilities. I think this is the best scenario.
I bet you asking “How do we get that “Permalink?” Great question! Here’s how:
If you have created the post and you are behind the website, most sites have a button to preview the post or the site. On WordPress you can click on “Preview Post” and you will get the “Permalink” address. If you just click on “Preview” you will just get a link, not the “Permalink.”
If you are on someone else’s site you can click on the post and the “Permalink” should appear in the “Address Bar.”
Here’s a blog etiquette post on the subject:
http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/2008/11/what-is-a-permalink/
Contributed by: 
Keep in mind that we are all in different learning stages. I have a computer guru; her name is Christine Taylor and occasionally she has to ask her guru for help. After talking with Christine, I was able to active “Pretty Permalink” on this site. Thank you Christine Taylor, AKA mousewords.
Debra,
I appreciate the depth of your explanation, but as a total amateur, my head is spinning – as in “way over my head.”
Maybe I should just copy what you wrote and start a folder on my computer on “Techie Tips.” Hopefully, as I get more saavy, this stuff will fall into place.
Judy
Ok. I spent a little more time with this and am beginning to understand. I need to learn to take my time before I fire off a comment.
I still don’t know the difference between a permalink and a pretty permalink.
Maybe I’ll get this, yet.
Judy
A “Pretty Permalink” will send you to the exact location vs. the website. Click on two or three blog titles and look in the URL address each time to see how the address changes. I think this will make more sense after we have a few “Technologies for Writers” classes. Thanks for the comment Judy.